Written questions by Hollinrake.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Charity Commission on it making an assessment of whether IM01 LIMITED trading as Inter-Mediate, Charity number: 1143848, is undertaking (a) charitable activities and (b) commercial activities.

DCMS has not had discussions with the Charity Commission for England and Wales regarding the activities of IM01 Limited.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45800 on Press: Misconduct, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that arbitration schemes operated by press regulators are available to provide timely and effective redress before the Government directs members of the public to them in guidance.

The UK has a self-regulatory system for the press, which is independent from Government. This is vital to ensure the public has access to accurate and trustworthy information from a range of different sources. The Government therefore does not intervene in or evaluate the work of independent press regulators.However, under Section 179 of the Data Protection Act every three years the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report on the use and effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution procedures, such as arbitration, in cases involving a failure or alleged failure by relevant media organisations to comply with data protection legislation. The most recent report was presented to Parliament in May 2024 and was carried independently of DCMS by David Rossington, as the Independent Reviewer. The report is published on the Gov.uk website:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d2ded5fb8db2176d5e97d0/Formatted_240312_SECOND_REPORT_UNDER_SECTION_179_OF_THE_DATA_PROTECTION_ACT_v3__FINAL__accessible.pdf.

Media and Sport, whether the Prime Minister plans to recuse himself from the appointments process for non-executive board members of the independent football regulator.

The Football Governance Act 2025 is clear that decisions regarding the appointment of Non-Executive Members of the Independent Football Regulator are made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for the appointment of board members of the independent football regulator.

Three board members are already in place at the IFR. A robust, transparent process to recruit a further four appointees, to complement the existing talent, opened on 12 November. Applications are due on 10 December and the full details are on the public appointments pages of Gov.uk: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8938?titleSearch=football&body=&regulated=&bodyJustice=&remunerated=&status=open&sort=openingAt%3Adesc

Media and Sport, further to Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q282, if she will place the National Archives documentation on the meeting with Jeffery Epstein in the Library of the House.

The records cited in the Foreign Affairs Committee’s oral evidence session on the Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q282) can be viewed at The National Archives under references PREM 49/3326 and PREM 49/2771.Additionally, a copy of PREM 49/3326 is available digitally on The National Archives’ website.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the current operational status of the IPSO Arbitration Scheme, including whether arbitrators are presently being appointed to claims, and what evaluation she has made of the implications of any such delays for the public’s ability to access timely and effective redress.

The UK has a self-regulatory system for the press, which is independent from Government. This is vital to ensure the public has access to accurate and trustworthy information from a range of different sources. The Government therefore does not intervene in or evaluate the work of IPSO.However, under Section 179 of the Data Protection Act every three years the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report on the use and effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution procedures, such as arbitration, in cases involving a failure or alleged failure by relevant media organisations to comply with data protection legislation. The most recent report was presented to Parliament in May 2024 and was carried independently of DCMS by David Rossington, as the Independent Reviewer. The report is published on the Gov.uk website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d2ded5fb8db2176d5e97d0/Formatted_240312_SECOND_REPORT_UNDER_SECTION_179_OF_THE_DATA_PROTECTION_ACT_v3__FINAL__accessible.pdf.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85202 on Sports: Women, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Charity Commission have issued to (i) local authorities and (ii) charities on sporting events that ban the participation of women and provide no alternative single-sex provision; and whether they have received representations in relation to events in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not issued guidance to either local authorities or charities on sporting events, and it has not received representations in relation to events in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. I refer the Honourable Member/my Honourable to the answer I gave on 4 November 2025 to Question 85202: “The Charity Commission for England and Wales provides guidance for charities on compliance with the Equality Act 2010.” The Charity Commission has received representations in relation to events in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets from three Members of Parliament,. David Holdsworth, CEO of the Charity Commission, sent a reply on 18 November 2025.

Media and Sport, whether the Government has responded to the Commissioner for Public Appointment's decision notice on the Independent Football Regulator appointment of November 2025.

The department is committed to learning from this process and will work with the Cabinet Office to take forward the Commissioner’s recommendations.

Media and Sport, whether the appointment of David Kogan as Independent Football Regulator Chair required the Prime Minister's approval.

No. The Football Governance Act (2025) sets out in Schedule 2, Part 2, that in relation to the Board of the Independent Football Regulator “the non-executive members are to be appointed by the Secretary of State”. In this case the decision to appoint the Chair was delegated to the Minister for Sport.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has issued guidance to charities on the (a) participation of and (b) provision of parallel provision for (i) older girls and (ii) women in sporting events.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales provides guidance for charities on compliance with the Equality Act 2010.The Government is committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.The This Girl Can campaign, run by our Arm’s Length Body Sport England, has inspired millions of women and girls to get active. 1.6 million more women are expected to be active as a result of the campaign by 2028.We’ve also launched the Women’s Sport Taskforce to tackle challenges and barriers facing women and girls in sport, from grassroots to elite.More widely, the Government is also harnessing the power of hosting major sporting events, such as investing £6.7 million into the Impact 25’ programme for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which has been used to make facilities more accessible for women, train new female coaches and match officials and provide sanitary packages to clubs nationwide. To honour the Lionesses recent European Championship triumph, the Government has announced new plans that are expected to more than double the share of slots dedicated to women’s and girls’ teams at Government-funded facilities across England over the next five years.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45662 on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, what her planned timetable is for publishing this information.

The Government is following due process and will publish further information later this year.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Charity Commission on the activities of (a) Dar Al-Hekma and (b) Abrar Islamic Foundation.

The Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth recently met with the Charity Commission to discuss a range of issues. The Charity Commission has live regulatory compliance cases open into the Abrar Islamic Foundation and the Dar Alhekma Trust and they will not hesitate to take regulatory action if necessary. Given the nature of the allegations, the Commission has also referred the serious allegations to the Metropolitan Police Service.As the independent regulator, the Charity Commission has a wide range of powers to tackle misconduct or mismanagement in charities. It acts robustly to tackle those who abuse charities. We keep the Charity Commission's powers under regular review and are actively considering whether further powers are required.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for publishing the local media strategy.

Sustainability of journalism across the country is an area of particular concern for this Government, and the development of a Local Media Strategy is in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. We recently held a roundtable discussion with local news editors to discuss our planned approach and collaboration with industry on the Strategy. An industry working group has now been set up to consider the issues in more detail and we will announce more in the coming months.

Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Charity Commission on the activities of Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission.

Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission is not a registered charity. No discussions have taken place with the Charity Commission on the activities of this organisation.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 50857, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, whether (a) Parliament and (b) select committee chairs will be informed of a contingent liability on the Consolidated Fund, relating to government commitments being made to Universal Studios from the announced deal.

Further details on Government infrastructure investment around the site will be set out in due course and due process will be followed should any contingent liability arise.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 50857 on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, whether government guarantees are contingent on planning permission being awarded.

The proposals remain subject to a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. As outlined when the Government announced the deal, further details will be set out in due course.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49772 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will publish the (a) State of Conservation Report and (b) Historic England advice.

The Executive Summary of the State of Conservation Report is published on UNESCO’s website: https://whc.unesco.org/document/218772. There are no plans to publish the full State of Conservation Report at the current time.Historic England’s advice is published on Tower Hamlets’ planning website: https://development.towerhamlets.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_145208

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45662 on Tax Allowances: Mid Bedfordshire, whether the negotiations over central government support or subsidy for the Universal Studios development have now concluded; and whether the intention is for a legally binding agreement.

Details of negotiations with private investors and Government are confidential. The proposals remain subject to a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and as outlined when the Government announced the deal, further details on Government infrastructure investment around the site will be set out in due course.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45688 on Holiday Accommodation and Second Homes: Registration, if she will ensure that homes subject to a second homes council tax premium by local authorities are not charged additional registration fees.

The registration scheme for short-term lets legislated for in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 will require registration of specified properties that meet the definition of a short-term rental property. The detailed scope of the scheme is still being determined and will be shaped to meet the scheme’s overarching objectives to provide data that enables local authorities to better understand their visitor accommodation market, support tourism growth, and protect the spirit and fabric of communities.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 45034 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether her Department has had discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.

DCMS officials have held discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets limited to the State of Conservation Report submitted in November 2024 and the inclusion of Historic England's advice to the Public Inquiry and Planning Inspectorate in the paragraph 172 notification submitted in February 2025.